SJA’s girls tennis Assistant Coach Brian Bluedorn has been named one of two Assistant Coaches of the Year for Class A high school tennis in Minnesota.

This award is given by the Minnesota High School Tennis Coaches Association.

The Saints girls tennis Head Coach Les Zellmann said, “Brian has a great rapport with the players. It has been great fun to watch Brian develop as an assistant coach.

“He understands the goals of the development of player skills and how to help players compete at a high level. He is very deserving of this honor.”

Bluedorn has been the Saints girls tennis and boys tennis coaching staff for six years. He has been an assistant coach for the girls team for four years. In addition, he has been the 7th grade boys basketball coach for six years.

Coach Bluedorn said it was an honor to receive the award. “I think of it as a team award. We have a good team with good players who work hard all of the time,” Bluedorn said.

Some of what’s involved in the art of coaching according to the Saints coach is, “I get the kids to enjoy the game, work hard and try to improve every time they go out and play.

“We do what we can to give the kids as many chances as possible to play.”

The other asst. coach award went to Josh Otto-Fischer of Glencoe-Silver Lake.